Having just graduated from BIMM University with a diploma in Professional Musicianship, and played at this years Bloodstock festival with his Brighton based metal band Gaia, it's a change of atmosphere and scenery at this year's Halkett Hoedown for White Knuckle Collective's blues guitarist Olly Rybarczuk.
Who are you looking forward to seeing most perform here at the Halkett Hoedown?
I haven’t actually seen the line-up yet!
Tell me a bit about your chosen band name
Essentially it’s just a collective of musicians whenever I come home, the line-up is constantly changing. Me and Ferret are the only constant members, which is why it’s a collective of musicians rather than a band.
Why did you decide to create this band?
To keep up regular gigs and steady money really. It’s really good fun too, with some really talented guys.
How long have you guys been playing together for?
Me and Ferret have been gigging for about four years doing local stuff.
Why did you choose to be a blues band over any other genre, especially after having minor success with Gaia?
Mainly because Ferret’s been doing it for years and I seen him do a similar thing before I was in the picture, and knowing that they were getting regular gigs made me want to get involved with it. I put it out to him that I played guitar and at the time I started working with him I was about 17/18, so he didn’t really believe I could play the tunes, but after sitting in with the band a few times they realised I could play their repertoire.
How do you choose which songs to cover for an event like this?
Normally we have a 2/3 hour set list in terms of all of our material, and when we play something like this for 45 minutes we’ll whittle down the best songs and put them together. When you play a longer set you have to pace it out, generally speaking you’ll have two 45 minute sets with a break in the middle and pace out your best material. For something like this it’s just the Best Of.
Is there one song you wish you could play but wouldn’t fit with the band?
Besides death metal? As long as it’s within blues the guys are open to pretty much anything, with changing the set list a bit over the years.
Will you be sticking to covers or branch out into original material?
It’s all covers. We don’t particularly rehearse, full stop. We know the set list, we show up, run a few things during sound check, things we’re not familiar with. But we’ve been doing it for so long now, it’s just turn up and play.
Olly is also starting a career with Jenca Music School, teaching guitar and music production.
Keep a look out for White Knuckle Collective gigs in Jersey.
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